Empress of Dirt

1 week ago | empressofdirt.net | Melissa J. Will

Wildlife gardening can transform even a modest urban space into a thriving habitat. In these videos, UK ecological gardener Chris Baines shares how he created his own wildlife garden and pond decades ago and how it’s doing today. Also see Advice for Starting a New Pond to prepare for creating a pond in your backyard. Want to create a wildlife garden in the city?

1 week ago | empressofdirt.net | Melissa J. Will

Wondering if crop rotation is really necessary in your home vegetable garden? This article explains why the practice may not offer much benefit in small, diverse gardens, and what to focus on instead for healthy, productive plants. If you’re new to this, How to Grow Your First Vegetable Garden (Right Now) gives a good overview. This article is adapted from our podcast, Two Minutes in the Garden, episode 412- Do Gardeners Need Crop Rotation?  You can listen to the entire episode in Resources (below).

1 week ago | empressofdirt.net | Melissa J. Will

Ever wonder where bees disappear to in winter—and how they reappear like magic in spring? This gardener’s guide to native bees reveals where they really nest (hint: not in hives) and how you can help them thrive in your garden. Another helpful ecological garden tip is to skip No-Mow May and grow more flowering plants instead. This article is adapted from our podcast, Two Minutes in the Garden, episode 396- Helping Ground-Nesting Bees. You can listen to the entire episode in Resources (below).

2 weeks ago | empressofdirt.net | Melissa J. Will

Most companion planting advice found in “friend or foe” lists is based on guesswork, not science. Instead of trying to accommodate these made-up lists, learn what to prioritize instead. If you’re new to gardening, use these tips to better understand your growing conditions and make smart planting decisions. Companion planting is one of those ideas that sounds great in theory: place certain plants together and they’ll boost each other’s success—fewer pests, better flavor, more vigorous plants.

2 weeks ago | empressofdirt.net | Melissa J. Will

Turn a garden photo and keepsakes into a delightful 3-D display with this shadow box tutorial. It’s a fun way to preserve garden memories and create something beautiful to display indoors. If you want to make your own miniatures, we have a tutorial here using polymer clay. Shadow boxes, junk journals, and scrapbooks may take different shapes, but they all spring from the same creative spark—gathering the bits and pieces we love and turning them into something beautiful and meaningful.